Instant stable film processing method

ABSTRACT

In accordance with a stable, almost instantaneous film processing method, film is preconditioned in a chemically inert but compatible conditioning fluid. Thereafter, the preconditioned film is advanced into an exposure chamber in which it is sealed in the presence of conditioning fluid and maintained under pressure so as to spatially stabilize the film. The film is then exposed, and thereafter developing fluid is metered into the exposure chamber under pressure in order to develop the film in place while maintaining the spatial stability thereof. The speed of the development step may be enhanced further through the use of heated developing fluids or special developing agents.

United States Patent 1 1 Wender et al.

INSTANT STABLE FILM PROCESSING METHOD UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,200,724.8/196'5 Stamm 9s/14x l,45i,0 65 4/1923 Dye ..95/90.5

ECC

[4 1 June 19, 1973 Attorney-Ronald L. Engel, Daniel W. Vittum, Jr.

and Gomer W.-Walters et-al. [5 7 ABSTRACT In accordance with a stable,almost instantaneous film processing method, film is preconditioned in achemically inert but compatible conditioning fluid. Thereafter, thepreconditioned film is advanced into an exposure chamber in which it issealed in the presence of conditioning fluid and maintained underpressure so as to spatially stabilize the film. The film isthen-exposed, and thereafter developing fluid is metered into theexposure chamber under pressure in order to develop the film in placewhile maintaining the spatial stability thereof. The speed of thedevelopment step may be enhanced further through the use of heateddeveloping fluids or special developing agents.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure ECB Patented June 19, 1973 3,739,702

,3 cc 1! cos (L ccc F ccc INSTANT STABLE FILM PROCESSING METHODBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to the film processing arts and more particularly to a highspeed method for development of film in place while maintaining thespatial stability thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Devices designed to accomplish in-placeprocessing of exposed photographic films have long been known. However,certain applications of such devices additionally require that a highdegree of spatial stability be maintained during exposure andprocessing. For example, in real time interferometeric holography, wherea comparison is made between an object and its holographicallyreconstructed image, almost instantaneous in-place development with anextremely high level of spatial stability is absolutely essential. Suchrequirements are not, however, peculiar to holography, since manyphotographic techniques have the same requirements (e.g., aerialphotographs where a high image resolution is required.)

Existing devices and methods for achieving the foregoing objectives havenot been entirely satisfactory. Systems now in use are relativelycumbersome in that they generally involve the use of emulsion-coated,individual glass plates which must be manually positioned beforeexposure and processing. Moreover, because such emulsions are ordinarilydry" when placed in position, they undergo physical changes whencontacted with developing and other treatment solutions such that smallchanges in the physical position of the emulsion can occur. Such spatialinstability is highly undesirable because it limits the utility of sucha system for its intended-purpose. Further, the advantages of ease ofhandling and rapid sequential exposure which can be achieved with rollfilm are highly desirable alternatives to the expense and inconvenienceof using glass photographic plates. However, present roll filmprocessors lack the stability required for real time interferometry andfor high image resolution photography. This lack of stability occurs dueto a physical change in the emulsion between the exposed and processedconditions.

Accordingly, a prime objective of this invention is to provide a methodfor processing emulsion-coated film under interferometrically stableconditions (i.e., under conditions providing positional accuracieswithin ten millionths of an inch).

A further objective is to provide shortening of processing time for suchstable film processing method.

Yet another objective is to provide a method of handling anemulsion-coated film such that it is maintained in a precise plane ofregistration such as would be defined by the focal plane of a highresolution lens.

A still further objective is to provide a process of the foregoing typewhich may be adapted to any of a variety of film emulsions anddevelopment techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing and other objectives, advantages,and features of this invention may be achieved with a process forrapidly developing exposed emulsion-coated film in place comprising thesteps of passing the film through a conditioning chamber in which theemulsion side of the film is contacted with chemically inert butcompatible conditioning fluid. Thereafter, the condiutilized in theexposure chamber, and this fixative is likewise metered into the chamberunder pressure so as not to alter the spatial stability of the film.Since the process may be used with roll-type film,the film may besequentially advanced under automatic control from a cassette ormagazine supply through the conditioning chamber wherein it isconditioned and thereafter into the exposure chamber wherein it isexposed and treated. Thereafter, the film may be advanced into a dryerand take-up spool if desired.

If it is desired further to speed the treatment process, heatedtreatment fluid may be used, resulting in an almost instantaneoustreatment of the exposed film in place. A highly desirable method ofheating the treatment fluid involves focusing infrared radiation on thefilm plane in the exposure chamber with an infrared absorbing dye orother material being provided in the treatment fluid, thereby heatingthe treatment fluid and the emulsion it contacts in a highly efficientand selective manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is a schematic flow sheetillustrating an exemplary embodiment of the process of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The instant, stablefilm processing method of this invention is designed to permit almostinstantaneous inplace development of exposed film, especially roll-typefilm, such that, within a matter of seconds after exposure, there isobtained a processed film located in the identical position in which itwas positioned during exposure. For purposes of this invention, anidentical position is considered to be one located within ten millionthsof an inch of the reference position.

The method comprises the steps of passing emulsioncoated film,especially a strip of film from a roll preferably provided in cassetteor magazine form, through a conditioning chamber in which at least theemulsion side of the film is contacted with a chemically inert butcompatible conditioning fluid. This conditioning allows the emulsion toexpand to a given thickness which is thereafter maintained throughoutprocessing. Thereafter, the conditioned film is advanced from theconditioning chamber to an exposure chamber in which it is sealed, withconditioning fluid being introduced into the exposure chamber underpressure in order to both stabilize the spatial (i.e., physical)position of the entire film and to maintain a constant emulsionthickness. As used herein, the term stable" means a film that is bothspatially stable and which has an emulsion of constant thickness. Thefilm may then be exposed, with the conditioning fluid thereafter beingremoved from the exposure chamber and treatment (i.e., development)fluid being introduced therein under pressure in place of theconditioning fluid so as to permit treatment (i.e., development) of thefilm to occur in place without any changes occurring in the stability(i.e., physical size and position) of the film emulsion.

After treatment is completed, treatment fluid is removed from theexposure chamber, and conditioning fluid is re-introduced under pressurein order to continue maintenance of the spatial stability of theexposed, developed film emulsion. If desired, chemical fixative may alsobe utilized in the exposure chamber as a part of the treatment step.Where this is the case, the fixative solution is likewise metered intothe chamber under pressure so as not to alter the spatial stability ofthe exposed developed film emulsion as the developing fluid is exhaustedtherefrom.

Since the process is intended for use with roll-type film, especiallysuch film that may be provided in cassette or magazine form, the entireapparatus for carrying out the process may be sequenced in an automatedfashion, such that film advancement, conditioning, exposure, andtreatment are all cycled to occur at predetermined intervals uponinitiation of one signal from an operator.

By employing heated developers or special heating methods, the chemicalaction thereof in treating the exposed film can be enhanced, therebyfurther speeding the treatment aspect of the process. A preferred methodof utilizing heat to enhance treatment speed involves the provision inthe treatment fluid of a chemically inert but compatible infraredabsorbing material such as dye. A lamp emitting infrared radiation isfocused on the film plane in the exposure chamber immediately aftertreatment fluid is introduced into the chamber. As a result, the smallvolume of treatment fluid in the chamber is rapidly heated, with theheat thereby being transferred to the emulsions. However, a minimum ofheat is transferred to the other components of the arrangement. Uponcompletion of the treatment step, reintroduction of conditioning fluidinto the chamber rapidly returns the developed film to ambienttemperature.

The spectral emission of the lamp is filtered, thus permitting onlyinfrared radiation to reach the film exposure chamber. The film used isoptically insensitive to the infrared radiation and is thus notadditionally exposed. By incorporating a dye (e.g., aluminumphthalocyanine chloride), enhanced absorption of the infrared radiationtakes place within the treatment fluid. This heat is transferred byfluid convection and conduction to the film emulsion. The choice of dyeis thus determined by its efficiency in absorbing infrared radiation.

With particular reference to the drawings, which represents in schematicform one arrangement by which the film processing method of thisinvention may be carried out, there is shown a film magazine M in whichis provided a roll of film FR from which a strip of film F may be drawnby passing over various idler rollers R. The film is advanced bysuitable means such as a pair of opposed friction drive rollers DR.

The film F first passes through a conditioning chamber CC formed by abase CCB and a cover CCC. The conditioning chamber cover CCC is moveablebetween a first position (shown in broken lines in the drawing), whereinit is disposed away from the base CCB so as to permit advancement of thefilm F, and a second position (shown in solid lines in the drawing), inwhich it clamps the base CCB in order to define an enclosed chamber. Bymeans of an inlet CCI, chemically inert,

but compatible conditioning fluid can be introduced into theconditioning chamber SC. Inlet CCI is suitably valved to control thepassage of conditioning fluid into the chamber CC. Similarly, a valvedoutlet CCO is provided in communication with the chamber CC in order topermit conditioning fluid to be withdrawn from the chamber prior to theadvancement of the film F. Preferably, a source of compressed air orother gas is provided in communication with inlet CCI in order to blowthe conditioning fluid out of the chamber CC upon completion of theconditioning step.

From the conditioning chamber CC, the film F passes to an exposurechamber EC. Exposure chamber EC, which is configured in the same manneras soaking chamber SC, comprises a base ECB that is fixed in positionand a cover ECC which is movable between a first position (shown inbroken lines in the drawing), in which the cover is disposed away fromthe film F in order to permit the advancement thereof, and a secondposition (shown in full lines in the drawing) in which the film F isclamped against the base ECB in order to define the exposure chamber EC.A valved fluid inlet EC[ is provided in order to permit the introductionof conditioning fluid and treatment (i.e., development) fluid, and thereis also provided a valved outlet ECO which permits such solutions to bewithdrawn from the exposure chamber EC. As in the case of theconditioning chamber, the exposure chamber inlet ECI communicates with asource of compressed air or other gas used for exhausting fluid from thechamber after treatment is completed and before the chamber is opened.

The film F passes from the exposure chamber EC between the drive rollersDR and may be wound, cut, and thereafter handled in any desired manner.

At least part of the exposure chamber cover ECB is transparent in orderto permit light to pass therethrough and impinge upon the emulsion offilm F, and similarly, the exposure chamber base 'ECB will normally atleast in part be fully transparent in order to permit the exposed,developed film and, in some cases, the object to be photographed orholographed to be observed while the film is positioned in the exposurechamber ECB. Moreover, the use of a transparent base ECB permit infraredradiation from a lamp L to be focused on the film plane in the exposurechamber to facilitate a heated treatment step as described above.

In general, the entire arrangement shown in the drawing would (by meansnot shown) be excluded from light except when it is desired that thefilm be exposed. If holographic techniques are to be employed, no lensneed of course be provided in order to focus an image on the film, butrather a source of coherent light and means for causing an interferencepattern between an object and reference beams falling on the film Fshould be provided, as is well known in the art. Alternatively, ifphotographic techniques are to be employed, a lens will normally beprovided in order to focus an image of the object to be photographed onthe film F.

The steps of the process will now be described in detail with referenceto the schematic arrangement shown in the drawing. With the film andapparatus arranged as shown in the drawing (i.e., with the conditioningchamber cover and the exposure cover in their full line closedpositions), a cycle of operation in accordance with the process of thisinvention may be initiated by opening the valved outlets, CCC and ECO,so as to exhaust all residual treatment, conditioning or other fluidfrom the chambers SC and ECC. Emptying of the chambers is preferablyfacilitated by introducing compressed air or other gas through inletsCCI and ECI at the same time. Thereafter, the covers CCC and ECC areopened to their broken line positions as shown in the drawing. At thatpoint, operation of the drive rollers DR may be initiated so as to causethe film F to advance one frame from the roll FR. The drive rollers DRare only actuated after the covers CCC and ECC have been opened so as torelease the pressure on the film. The film frame that has been disposedin the closed conditioning chamber CC has been pre-conditioned by achemically inert, but compatible, conditioning fluid which was exhaustedfrom the conditioning chamber CC through outlet CCO just prior to filmadvancement. By subjecting the emulsion side of the film F to the inertconditioning solution, any spatial or other dimensional changes that thefluid causes in the emulsion of the film will have occurred prior to thefinal positioning of the film F in the exposure chamber EC. As will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter, the conditioning fluid ischemically inert with reference to the film, and it is also compatiblewith the subsequently employed treatment fluids. The chemicalcomposition of the soaking fluid will normally be substantially the sameas that of the treatment fluid except for the absence of the activedeveloping agents. Thus, since most film developing fluids are aqueousin nature, the soaking fluid normally used in accordance with thepreferred practice of the process of this invention will be water. Foremulsions in which silver halide particles are suspended in agelataneous medium, maintaining a constant level of acidity or pH isimportant since changes in the pH cause the emulsion to swell and shrinkat varying rates. Thus, by closely matching pH in the conditioning fluidwith the treatment fluid, minimal variations in emulsion thicknessoccur. By re-introducing conditioning fluid after development, the pH ofthe emulsion is then substantially identical to the original pl-l. Thus,the film emulsion is prefectly stabilized during the exposure andtreatment steps in chamber EC as a result of the conditioning whichoccurs in chamber CC.

When the film is advanced with the covers ECC and CCC in their openpositions, the pre-conditioned emulsion on film F is quickly advancedfrom the conditioning chamber CC to the exposure chamber EC whereuponthe cover ECC is closed in order to provide the defined exposure chamberand to clamp the film in position against the base ECB. v

At the same time, the next frame on the film F is advanced into theconditioning chamber CC and, when the conditioning chamber cover CCC isclosed, conditioning fluid once again is introduced through inlet CCl soas to accomplish the conditioning of the next frame on the film F whilean already conditioned frame is in position for exposure in the exposurechamber EC. In general, a conditioning period of at least 15 seconds isusually necessary to swell a gelataneous emulsion at the maximum extentprovided the emulsion thickness is less than about five ten thousandthsof an inch.

As soon as the exposure chamber cover ECC closes over the conditionedfilm frame, additional compatible conditioning fluid (water in mostinstances) is introduced through the inlet EC! into the exposure chamberEC under pressure. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter,the conditioning fluid is introduced into the chamber immediately so asto maintain the film emulsion in its conditioned dimensionally stablestate,

and in addition, pressure is applied to assure that the film is pressedtightly and uniformly against the base ECB. Since fluid is maintainedthroughout the exposure and treatment steps in the exposure chamber ECunder constant pressure, the physical position of the film and thespatial condition of the emulsion of the film are maintainedsubstantially constant.

The film may then be exposed in a known manner (i.e., by action of ashutter controlling passage of light through the lens which focuses aphotographic image onto the film emulsion or by initiation of the laserlight used in recording holograms). The exposure initiation can beaccomplished automatically by microswitch de vices built into theprocessor. After exposure is completed, pressurized treatment fluid(i.e., developer) is introduced into the chamber through inlet ECI asthe valved outlet ECO is opened so as to permit the conditioning fluidto be removed at the same time. The treatment fluid may be introduced atelevated temperatures so as to speed the development process, or,preferably, as described above, an infrared absorbing dye or othermaterial is present in the treatment solution and infrared radiation isfocused on the film plane in the exposure chamber in order to heat thetreatment fluid. The spatial position of the film remains the same inthe exposure chamber due to the constant pressure exerted by the fluids,and the emulsion thickness is also held constant due to the action ofthe conditioning fluid. After the treatment is completed, inertconditioning fluid is reintroduced so as to wash the treatment fluidaway, and if desired, fixative solution and/or photographic bleaches maybe introduced and thereafter flushed away by conditioning fluid, whilemaintaining the desired pressure conditions.

The normal photographic cycle is completed at this point but the cyclemay be repeated by emptying the chambers SC and EC through valves CCCand ECO, opening the covers CCC and ECC and once again advancing thefilm.

As noted above, the process of this invention may be used with a varietyof photographic and holographic processing chemicals. The spirit andscope of the invention is such that, while any sequence and number offluid chemicals may be incorporated, the film emulsion is maintained inan interferometrically stable condition. For example, suitableconditioning fluids which may be employed to treat the film as it ispositioned in the conditioning chamber CC include water and aqueoussolutions of additives such as triethanolamine and KO- DAK Photoflow.

Suitable developers include aqueous solutions of sodium sulfite,hydroquinone, sodium hydroxide, and potassium bromide; Elon, sodiumsulfite, hydroquinone, monobasic sodium carbonate, and potassiumbromide; and KODAK Viscomat, Type 5. In addition, the treatment ordevelopment solution preferably comprises an infrared sensitive dye suchas aluminum phthalocyanine chloride.

If desired, a fixer comprising an aqueous solution of sodiumthiosulphate, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfite, acetic acid, boric acid,and potassium alum may be employed. If desired, a photographic bleachcomprising an aqueous solution of potassium dichromate and hydrochloricacid or an aqueous solution of potassium bromide and mercuric chloridemay be used.

As noted, the particular chemical systems employed in the treatment offilms processed in accordance with this invention are not critical andany of a variety of processing chemicals may be used in accordance withthis invention.

The variety of film-emulsion types with which this process may be usedare generally denoted as silverhalide gelatin base types which arecoated on polyester or other polymer type material. Specific film typeswhich may be employed include Agfa Gevaert E56; KODAK 649F; and KODAKAHU 5460.

Because of the position of the film F does not change once it is fixedin position in the exposure chamber EC and because the conditioning,development, fixing and other fluids are all introduced into andwithdrawn from the exposure chamber EC under constant pressure, highdimensional stability is maintained. This stability is generally of theorder of magnitude of ten millionths of an inch using the specificvalues of pressurization hereinafter described. Furthermore, because theemulsion of the film F is subjected to the pre-conditioning step in thechamber CC, any slight alterations in thickness of the emulsion due tothe action of the solvent of the treatment system (i.e., water normally)on the relatively dry emulsion has already occurred. Thus, the spatialorientation of the film remains constant throughout the exposure anddevelopment stages of the process.

As previously indicated, one of the prime features of the process ofthis invention is the fact that the fluids employed within theconditioning chamber CC and the exposure chamber EC (i.e., theconditioning, treatment, fixative, etc.) are maintained under constantpressure so as to spatially stabilize the film F and hold it tightlyagainst the base of the exposure chamber ECB when in position forexposure and treatment.

While any increase in pressure relative to ambient conditions will tendto produce satisfactory results, it

has been empirically found that pressures ranging in the order ofmagnitude of about 1 to about 2 pounds per square inch in excess ofambient pressure, permit the objectives of this invention to beachieved. It is especially important that the pressure selected beuniform throughout the process of this invention so that the film F inthe closed exposure chamber EC is maintained under constant pressureirrespective of the fluid present.

The practice of the process of this invention will now be illustrated bythe following specific examples.

EXAMPLE I Utilizing the process of this invention, Agfa Gevaert 10E56film is pre-conditioned and treated (i.e. developed, fixed and bleached)utilizing the following chem- 8 Boric Acid-Crystals 7.5 grams PotassiumAlum l5 grams Photographic Bleach:

Potassium Dichromate grams Hydrochloric Acid (con.) 64 cc Water I000 ccThe times for the respective steps are as follows. The preconditioningstep is at least 15 seconds in length. After the film is advanced intothe exposure chamber, the conditioning fluid is introduced therein andthe film is exposed. After the pre-conditioned film is exposed in theexposure chamber, the treatment fluid is introduced into the exposurechamber and is illuminated with infrared light for a period of 10seconds in order to accomplish development of the film. The speed ofdevelopment is enhanced by the heating which occurs when the aluminumphthalocyanine chloride dye absorbs the infrared radiation.

Thereafter, the photographic fixer is introduced into the exposurechamber and permitted to remain in the chamber for a period of about 30seconds. The photographic bleach is then introduced into the chamber andpermitted to remain there for a period of about 1 minute, at which pointit is washed out of the chamber by additional conditioning fluid. All ofthe fluids are introduced into the exposure chamber at a pressure ofabout 1.5 pounds per square inch in excess of ambient conditions. Theentire process of pre-conditioning, exposure, treatment, includingfixing and bleaching, takes less than 2 minutes.

EXAMPLE II The process of this invention may be carried out with EastmanKodak No. 649F film utilizing the following chemical agents:

Conditioning Fluid: Water I000 cc Trietlgnglamige 50 cc TreatmentSolution: Water 1500 CC Elon 2.0 grams Sodium Sulfite 90 gramsHydroquinone 8 grams Sodium Carbonate (Mono.) 53 grams Potassium Bromide5 grams Photographic Bleach:

Water I000 cc Potassium Bromide 23 grams Mercuric Chloride 23 gramsAfter pre-conditioning, the film was positioned in the exposure chamberand conditioning fluid is admitted into the chamber. Following exposureof the film in the exposure chamber, the treatment solution isintroduced into the exposure chamber and permitted to remain there for aperiod of about 3 minutes. Thereafter, the photographic bleach isintroduced into the chamber as the treatment solution is exhaustedtherefrom. After the bleach contacts the developed film for about 10seconds, it is washed away by conditioning fluid. All fluids aresupplied to the chamber at a pressure of about 2.0 pounds per squareinch in excess of ambient pressure.

EXAMPLE Ill The following example illustrates the use of the process ofthis invention in the treatment of Eastman Kodak No. AHU 5460 film. Theconditioning fluid is a 5 percent aqueous solution of Kodak Photoflowand the treatment solution comprises Kodak" Viscomat 5 containing 0.01percent aluminum phthalocyanine chloride as an infrared absorbing dye.

After pre-conditioning, the film is positioned in the exposure chamberand conditioning fluid is introduced therein to at a pressure of about1.0 pound/per square inch in excess of ambient pressure. After exposure,the treatment solution is introduced into the exposure chamber whileinfrared illumination is directed into the exposure chamber for a periodof about seconds. Thereafter, the treatment solution is washed from theexposure chamber with additional conditioning fluid.

As previously noted, the process described by this invention may be usedwhere almost instantaneously processed stable film is required. Amongsuch uses are real time interferometric holography in which it isdesired tocompare an object (which may be changing in condition) with athree dimensional image of the object (obtained by reconstruction of thehologram). For these purposes, it is necessary to obtain an almostinstantaneously developed, spatially stable hologram in order to permitthe three diminsional reference image to be reconstructed at accuraciesinside several millions of an inch.

Similarly, conventional photographic applications may make use of theprocess of this invention. For example, the process may be used in highresolution aerial photography in which it may be desired to have analmost instantaneously developed, spatially stable aerial photography ofterrain for meteorological, military, cartographic, or other purposes.

While the foregoing uses should readily demonstrate the wide utility andapplication for the process of this invention, the scope of thisinvention should not be understood to be limited to any particular use,but rather should be considered to extend to all possible uses in whichit is desired to obtain a rapidly processed, spatially stable, in-placeexposed and developed film.

We claim:

1. A method for processing emulsion coated film comprising the steps of:

conditioning the film in a chemically inert, but compatible conditioningfluid such that at least the emulsion side of the film is contacted withthe conditioning fluid;

placing the conditioned film in an exposure chamber with the filmsupported by one side of the exposure chamber on the side of the filmopposite the emulsion;

sealing the exposure chamber;

introducing chemically inert, but compatible conditioning fluid into theexposure chamber under pressure so as to provide spatial stability tothe film; exposing the film; thereafter introducing treatment fluid intothe exposure chamber in order to develop the exposed film, the saidtreatment fluid being introduced under substantially the same pressureas the soaking fluid so as to maintain the spatial stability of thefilm, with the treatment fluid comprising a chemically inert, butcompatible dye having high infrared spectroscopic absorption; applyingheat to the treatment solution in the exposure chamber by focusinginfrared radiation of a type absorbed by the dye on the plane of thefilm in the exposure chamber, whereby the treatment fluid and the filmemulsion are heated in order to speed the development of the exposedfilm; and

thereafter removing the treatment fluid from the exposure chamber andre-introducing conditioning fluid under substantially the same pressurein order to further maintain the spatial stability of the exposed,developed film.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein fixative is introduced undersubstantially the same pressure into the exposure chamber at the sametime the treatment fluid is removed therefrom but prior tore-introduction of the conditioning fluid thereinto.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conditioning fluid,treatment fluid, and other liquids introduced into the exposure chamberare introduced at a pressure in the range of about 1.0 to 2.0 pounds persquare inch in excess of ambient pressure.

4. A method, as claimed in claim I, wherein the film to be processed isin roll form.

5. In a process for rapid treatment of emulsion coated film exposed inan exposure chamber, the improvement comprising introducing treatmentfluid comprising a dye having high infrared spectroscopic absorptioninto the chamber while focusing infrared radiation of the type readilyabsorbed by the dye on the plane of the film in the chamber, thereby toheat the treatment fluid.

6. An improvement, as claimed in claim 5 wherein the film is firstexposed in the chamber and is thereafter treated in place in thechamber.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein fixative is introduced undersubstantially the same pressure into the exposure chamber at the sametime the treatment fluid is removed therefrom but prior tore-introduction of the conditioning fluid thereinto.
 3. A method, asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the conditioning fluid, treatment fluid, andother liquids introduced into the exposure chamber are introduced at apressure in the range of about 1.0 to 2.0 pounds per square inch inexcess of ambient pressure.
 4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe film to be processed is in roll form.
 5. In a process for rapidtreatment of emulsion coated film exposed in an exposure chamber, theimprovement comprising introducing treatment fluid comprising a dyehaving high infrared spectroscopic absorption into the chamber whilefocusing infrared radiation of the type readily absorbed by the dye onthe plane of the film in the chamber, thereby to heat the treatmentfluid.
 6. An improvement, as claimed in claim 5 wherein the film isfirst exposed in the chamber and is thereafter treated in place in thechamber.